Scott James takes Corn Belt Clash victory at Cedar Lake Speedway!

NEW RICHMOND, WI (August 2) – A USA Nationals opening night record of 57 cars entered the $5,000-to-win Corn Belt Clash Series event at Cedar Lake and as the final checkered fell, it was the ‘Silver Shark’ Scott James who took home the win, and more importantly, a provisional starting spot in Saturday’s $50,000-to-win USA Nationals.

At the drop of the green flag, it was pole sitter Darrell Lanigan who shot out to the early lead, but after a single lap, the events only caution flew for a slowing AJ Diemel. On the restart, Lannigan shot back out into the lead, followed closely by Scott James and Tim Isenberg. As the top three began to separate themselves from the field, it was B-Feature winners Brandon Sheppard and Scott Bloomquist who began to make noise as they charged from deep in the field. Sheppard broke into the top-10 in the first 15 laps with Bloomquist not far behind.

As ‘The Bluegrass Bandit’ Lanigan worked heavy traffic, James was able to close the distance and pull even with him several times and on lap 30, James used a strong move on the top-side to take the lead. Five laps later, as the #0 car of Scott Bloomquist broke into the top-5, it was the #1 Rocket House car of Brandon Sheppard who slowed and turned into the infield.

With 10 to go, a hard charging Don O’Neal made himself known as he drove past Bloomquist into the top-5 in the Mouring Motorsports #1 entry. As the laps ticked down, Lanigan bobbled in turn two allowing Kindl LLC Business Solutions Quick Six winner Brian Shirley to blast into the runner-up position as the leaders took the white flag. As they leaders passed under the flying white, Scott Bloomquist slowed, dropping him from contention as James roared down the back stretch of historic Cedar Lake Speedway. James was able to pull ahead and capture his first career Corn Belt Clash Series victory followed by Brian Shirley and Darrell Lanigan. Kent Robinson and Don O’Neal rounded out the top-5 with current CBC point leader Chris Simpson coming home sixth followed by Frank Heckenast Jr,, Tim Isenberg, Dennis Erb and Jimmy Mars, who rounded out the top-10.

The Corn Belt Clash Series roars back into action next Friday night, August 10th at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minnesota and the following night makes the trek to the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa for the sixth annual Dusty Kay Memorial.